You Can’t Resell or Rent PS4 Games Unless Expressly Authorized By Sony

Sony has just updated their software usage Terms concerning the Playstation ecosystem including Playstation 4 and it seems that there’s something intriguing in the ‘Resale’ section.

Apparently, the resale of disk-based or downloaded software is not allowed, unless explicitly authorized by them as well as the publisher of the software itself.

Here it is, in section 7.1:

You must not resell either Disc-based Software or Software Downloads, unless expressly authorized by us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally by the publisher.

Further investigation led to the Software Licensing section, which says that customers do not actually own the software after buying, but are simply licensing it for use. What’s more, the company can terminate your license if you do not comply with the terms.

All Software is licensed, not sold, which means you acquire rights to use the Software, as described in these Terms, but you do not acquire ownership of the Software. If you do not comply with these Terms, we can terminate your Software License which means you will no longer have the right to use the Software.

There’s also this section about the Leasing and Renting of your games. As in that you’re not supposed to do it.

You must not lease, rent, sublicense, publish, modify, adapt, or translate any portion of the Software.

Let’s recall what Sony Computer Entertainment of America president and CEO Jack Tretton said at E3:

When a gamer buys a PS4 disk, they have the rights to use that copy of the game. They can trade in that game at retail, sell it to another person, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever. In forever, PlayStation 4 disc-based games don’t need to be connected online to play.

Remember How To Share PS4 Games Video? People took it to mean that players will be able to do whatever they want with their purchased software, but apparently that only extends to letting your friend play the game.

We’re still waiting for official word from Sony to clarify these terms. Until then, my jimmies are thoroughly rustled.

Yet another one of our many staff and a long-time contributor (We need all the staff, how do you think we keep it so busy around here?), Salman is one of our many news writers. He's a fan of the Thief series of games and his PC is his favourite platform for gaming.

Sik

Look at term 3.1: “3.1. Our Software Usage Terms (“Terms”) apply to your use of all Software on Authorised Systems.”

So, this would apply to the PS1 and PS2 too… Make what you want out of that.

Also I’m seeing some other comment here says the PS3 already had this clause mentioned in the article beforehand (never saw the Sony TOS before since I never had a PS3), so if that was indeed the case, well… I don’t think I need to explain further.

EDIT: stray newlines, tabs

Addicted Gamer

Yes because the end user TOS applies to GameStop where most trades probably occur, and Sony is capable of tracking cash transactions made on sites like Craigslist

Anthony Klinger

Nothing has changed it just sounds harsh. You can still move your games about the physical world letting whoever borrow or trade as they please. I do believe companies are at fault unless authorized to be able to.

DelsinRowe

You guys delete comments too? What a joke of a website.

DelsinRowe

“Yeah the grass don’t seem so green on this side either do it?”

So now you don’t even need a GED to write for this site?

Clate

This is a crappy article pretty much straight up lying to get views

DelsinRowe

“Yeah the grass don’t seem so green on this side either do it? ”

What, you no longer even need a GED to write on this site anymore?

Willy McBurgle

I think this is speaking more to the fact that retailers have to be authorised by Sony to re-sell or rent content. There is no indication about change of policy or intention to restrict ownership of disc-based content.